Think of the Children for August 29th

The ESRB was extremely busy in the last week, with some 42 submissions getting rated (including some dupes on different platforms.) Looking over the list, we can see that a controversial title finally makes good, pro basketball season is drawing near, the PC and DS platforms are dominating the amount of games getting released and the ultimate (good or bad) corporate tie-in game has surfaced.

Probably the biggest item from this weeks ESRB list is the second coming of the toned down Rockstar Games offering Manhunt 2, which received a ‘M’ for Mature rating after getting the dreaded ‘AO’ for Adults Only earlier this year. Rockstar likes to push the boundaries as evidenced by their Grand Theft Auto series, but sometimes you wonder if getting a bad “rep” can sway the ratings board when it comes to future titles. Regardless, Manhunt 2 still garnered the ‘M’ rating for Sex, Drugs, Blood violence and strong language. Something for all underage kids to look forward too.

Well, the NBA is right around the corners as no less than six of the entries were devoted to NBA 08, NBA Live 08 and NBA 08: The Life Volume 3 on six different platforms. It will be interesting to see if SCEA actually delivers a full 1080P game with NBA 08 instead of the half-ass attempt with NBA 07. Regardless, the SCEA and EA NBA offerings are all rated ‘E’ for Exploited.

If anyone thought Next-Gen consoles were the dominate platforms of the here and now, they would be dead wrong. While the Xbox 360 and PS3 have sold well in recent weeks and have many games due out, the PC and Nintendo DS remain the runaway leaders in games being rated. While many are low budget, sequels or even unnecessary, they are getting cranked out at a rate of 2 to 1 versus true next-gen games over the last two weeks.

Last but not least is our weekly ESRB coming out party, and something that looks to be a pathetic corporate tie-in for the Xbox 360 (unless of course it is free.) A game rating of E10+ was issued for Yaris for the Xbox 360. Last August there was a report that a Yaris driving game would be coming to the Xbox 360 Xbox Live Arcade service. Nothing ever happened, but the ESRB may have just breathed some new life back into that.

Game

Platforms

Publisher

ESRB rating

Chessmaster: The Art of Learning

Nintendo DS

Ubisoft

E

Manhunt 2

PlayStation 2, PSP

Rockstar Games

M

Manhunt 2

Wii

Rockstar Games

M

NBA 08 The Life Volume 3

PlayStation 2

SCEA

E

Spy-Q

Nintendo DS

Eidos

E

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground

Nintendo DS

Activision

E10+

Turok

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Disney Interactive Studios

M

Walt Disney Pictures Presents Enchanted

Nintendo DS

Disney Interactive Studios

E

Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008

Nintendo DS

Konami Digital Entertainment

E

1914-Shells of Fury

Windows PC

Strategy First

E10+

Build-A-Bear Workshop

Nintendo DS

The Game Factory ApS

E

Cars Mater-National

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

THQ Inc

E

Clive Barker's Jericho

Windows PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Codemasters Software Co LTD

M

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core

PlayStation 2, Wii

Aksys Games Localization, Inc.

T

NBA 08

PlayStation 3

SCEA

E

Petz Hamsterz Life 2

Nintendo DS

Ubisoft

E

Super Pickups

PlayStation 2

XS Games LLC

E

The Sims 2 Castaway

Nintendo DS

Electronic Arts

E

Thrillville: Off the Rails

Windows PC, PlayStation 2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii

LucasArts

E10+

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Activision

T

Beautiful Katamari

Xbox 360

Namco Bandai Games America

E

Bleach: The Blade of Fate

Nintendo DS

SEGA of America

T

Buzz Jr! Jungle Party

PlayStation 2

SCEA

E10+

Flip or Flop: Home Edition

Windows PC

eGames Inc

E

Rubik's Cube Challenge

Windows PC

eGames Inc

E

Soul Nomad & The World Eaters

PlayStation 2

NIS America Inc.

T

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

Windows PC

eGames Inc

E

Yaris

Xbox 360

Backbone Emeryville

E10+

7 Wonders II

Windows PC

United Developers

E

Bleach: Shattered Blade

Wii

SEGA of America

T

Conan

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

THQ

M

NBA Live 08

Windows PC, PlayStation 2

Electronic Arts

E

NBA Live 08

Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Electronic Arts

E

NBA Live 08

Wii

Electronic Arts

E

NBA Live 08

PSP

Electronic Arts

E

Petz Catz 2

Nintendo DS

Ubisoft

E

Rebel Raiders: Operation Nighthawk

Wii

XS Games LLC

E10+

Sudoku & Kakuro Mania Unlimited

Windows PC

Selectsoft Publishing / MPS

E

Super C

Wii

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.

E

Syphon Filter: Combat Ops

PSP

Sony Computer Entertainment America

T

Top Gear Downforce

Nintendo DS

Merscom

E

Trainz Railwayz

Windows PC

Merscom

E

Here is the final tally on who, what and where everything was rated. There were 42 rated entries on seven platforms. Nintendo DS (11), Windows PC (10), Xbox 360 (9) and Playstation 2 (7) had the most games rated. There were six of the 42 games at E10+ or lower, six rated at T for Teen and four rated at M for Mature (Includes Conan, Manhunt 2, Clive Barkers Jericho and Turok).

Until next week, make sure you know what your kids are playing……

* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company for review.

About Author

I spent the greater part of my informative years glued to the front of a Commodore 64 after we wore out our Intellivision. If you were in the Toledo area surfing C-64 bulletin boards in the mid 80's, we probably have already met. When not running the BBS, I spent countless hours wandering around the streets of Skara Brae, as my life was immersed in The Bard's Tale series on the C-64. After taking the early 90's off from gaming (college years) minus the occasional Bill Walsh College Football on Sega, I was re-introduced to PC games in the mid 1990's with a couple of little games called DOOM II and Diablo. I went all-in with the current generation of consoles, getting an Xbox 360 on launch weekend as well as adding a PS3 and Wii in subsequent years.

While my byline is on many reviews, articles and countless news stories, I have a passion for and spent the last several years at GamingNexus focusing on audio & video and accessories as they relate to gaming. Having over 15 years of Home Theater consulting and sales under my belt, it is quite enjoyable to spend some of my time viewing gaming through the A/V perspective. While I haven't yet made it to one of the major gaming conventions (PAX or E3), I have represented GamingNexus at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas for the last six years.

I have been a staff member at GamingNexus since 2006 and feel lucky to have the opportunity to put to use my B.A. in Journalism from The Ohio State University.